The Union Cabinet has approved a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for 1,140,770 non-gazetted railway employees. The payment, totalling Rs. 20.1 bn, is intended to recognise the workforce’s performance and is scheduled to be made before the Durga Puja and Dussehra holidays, as is customary each year.

The government said the maximum amount payable to an eligible employee would be Rs. 17,951. The bonus will apply to several categories of railway staff, including track maintainers, locomotive pilots, train managers, station masters, supervisors, technicians, technician helpers, pointsmen, ministerial employees and other Group C personnel.

The PLB is also intended to encourage employees to contribute to improvements in railway operations. The government described the payment as an incentive linked to the performance of the national transporter and said it would support continued efforts to improve its services.

Railways recorded strong operational results in FY26, according to the government. Freight loading reached a record 1.67 bn t during the year, while passenger services carried nearly 7.41 bn people.

The payment will therefore cover employees involved in a wide range of operational, technical, supervisory and administrative duties. The government said their contribution had supported the railway network’s performance across freight and passenger operations.

The Cabinet’s decision provides the eligible workforce with a uniform bonus framework based on 78 days of wages, subject to the applicable ceiling. The annual payment is expected to reach employees ahead of the festive holiday period, when the disbursement is traditionally made.